Cowichan River

The Cowichan is Vancouver Island's classic trout river, and the one most Island fly fishers learn on. It runs about 47 km from Cowichan Lake to the sea at Cowichan Bay, past Duncan, and the weir at the lake outlet keeps it clear and steady in most seasons. Wild brown trout, brought over from Europe long ago and now self-sustaining, share it with wild rainbows, sea-run cutthroat and a winter steelhead run. Every wild trout and steelhead goes back under the Region 1 rules.

Spring and fall are the seasons. From March into May the trout come up for March browns, blue-winged olives and caddis, and the browns eat salmon fry as they drop out of the gravel. Read the Duncan gauge: the river wades well under about 40 m³/s, settles near 10 in late spring, and blows out over about 120 after a big winter storm. Summer drops the river very low, and it is closed July 15 to August 31: in the dry summer of 2025 the province closed it early, on July 4. From December to March, winter steelhead run below the 66 Mile Trestle, and the fall salmon run closes the lower river from September 1 to November 15. The water between the Greendale trestle and the CNR bridge at Mile 70.2 is fly fishing only all year.

Most anglers walk in and wade. The Cowichan River Footpath and the Trans Canada Trail follow the river through Cowichan River Provincial Park, with access at Skutz Falls, the 66 Mile Trestle and Stoltz Pool. Skutz Falls and Marie Canyon are not safe to float through. Below Duncan the river runs through Cowichan Tribes reserve land, which needs the Nation's permission to cross. The river is busy on spring weekends near the park, and quieter in October.